Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph (50) shoots over Phoenix Suns' during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

For a couple of months, the more realistic among us have been anticipating this week. With the playoff race so tight and the Grizzlies' primary competition sitting right there on the schedule for Games 81 and 82, it seemed inevitable that these games would carry great weight.

The Grizzlies arrive at this point in good shape but with work yet to complete. To put it simply -- and you can get a fuller picture with our daily Playoff Pulse Watch -- a win Monday night in Phoenix gets the Grizzlies in and sets up a game on Wednesday with Dallas for the 7th (or, less likely, 6th) seed. A loss to Phoenix turns the season finale into a likely win-or-stay-home scenario.

We're keeping it short this week with the idea that there will be a Pick-and-Pop encore later in the week, to preview a playoff series or to do a season post-mortem, whichever road the fates present.

So, here are a few quick notes on this week's games:

Suns game preview: The Grizzlies are 3-0 against the Suns so far this season, but Grizzlies fans should be careful not to put too much stock into that. Eric Bledsoe, a noted past "Grizzlies Killer" missed two of those games. On the other hand, Marc Gasol missed all three and Courtney Lee, Tony Allen and Zach Randolph all missed a game.

There have been a couple of constants: The Grizzlies' inside game has been a force against their smaller, thinner, younger Suns counterparts, even without Gasol. Ed Davis has had a double-double in all three games and Zach Randolph has gone 20-15 and 20-13 in two games.

The Suns, fourth in the NBA at 25.1 three-point attempts per game, have been even more prolific against the Grizzlies, averaging 30 long-range attempts a game in the series. The Suns haven't gotten hot from three against the Grizzlies yet, and with the Grizzlies struggling some to defend the three lately (21st in opponent three-point percentage since the All-Star break and just barely outside the bottom five), this has to be the biggest concern.

It's a classic contrast in styles. An uptempo game with lots of open threes will favor the Suns. A mud fight around the rim will favor the Grizzlies.

X-factor: The head-to-head battle between Mike Conley and Goran Dragic, the two best guards in the NBA this season to be denied an All-Star selection.

Mavericks game preview: By contrast, the Grizzlies are 0-3 this season against the Mavs. But, as with the Suns game, fans shouldn't put too much stock in the season series.

The first game was way back in early November, when the Grizzlies were still in a team-wide, season-starting defensive funk and Quincy Pondexter and Jerryd Bayless combined to play 45 minutes (shooting 5-15).

The next game, Dec. 18, was played without four of five current Grizzlies starters (only Zach Randolph was active). The most recent game, on Feb. 5, was also played without Conley.

And Conley is key here. The Mavs sport one of the league's weakest defensive backcourts and the one time Conley got to play against them this season he went off for 24 points and 8 assists.

If the Grizzlies beat Phoenix on Monday, this game will decide who gets to avoid San Antonio in the first round and will be fiercely contested. The Grizzlies have an edge at home, but the Mavericks have Dirk Nowitzki, even at 34 one of the league's great matchup dilemmas.

If the Grizzlies lose to the Suns, though, Dallas could enter this game locked in to the 7th seed. If that's the case, they won't have much incentive and we could see them sit some guys.

Let Us Not Forget: Were the timing different, I would have responded to last week's win over the Miami Heat with another epic annotation. It was a game so rich with incident that it deserves to be remembered as more than merely a rung on the playoff-race ladder.

Elements of Style: That Marc Gasol screwball to Courtney Lee was the Pass of the Year … for all of two games? Hey Gasol, Z-Bo is coming for the crown:

We Made it, Ma! Top of the World!: I am very pleased to be able to end the final regular-season Pick-and-Pop with an acknowledgement of the one-and-only Bongo Lady, who was justly awarded the "NBA Fan of the Year" award by the crew of NBATV's The Starters. Thanks for the shout-out, Bongo Lady. Why don't you take us out ...